Get Your Wiggle On: PET CRAZY (Giveaway!)

That's because I believe so strongly in what they are accomplishing with these fun DIY poetry journals—slipping poetry into children's lives in a way that not only entertains, but helps young people explore their surroundings, think about themselves in relation to others, and express themselves through the power of words. The superpower of words, really.

YOU JUST WAIT, the first book in the series, explores questions that tweens and teens think about, like identity, belonging, and dreams for the future.

HERE WE GO is the next book in the series. Targeted at a slightly younger crowd, this book also grapples with questions of belonging, but within the context of community and social responsibility/activism.

PET CRAZY: A Poetry Friday Power Book
Pomelo Books, 2017
ISBN: 978-1937057718
Available for purchase at Amazon.com.

The newest book in the series, PET CRAZY, is geared toward our youngest writers-in-training (grades K-3). The cover (illustrated by Franzi Paetzold) is friendly and inviting, the larger size is great for little hands and big handwriting, but most importantly, anyone who's ever had kids, worked with kids, or has been a kid knows the magnetic draw of pets at that age. Ask any scout leader. When it comes to community service, animal rescue comes up again and again. That's because kids are crazy about their furry, scaly, and feathered friends. And who can complain about that? Pets provide a training ground for empathy, unconditional love, and responsibility, and ultimately teach children how to be compassionate and trustworthy grown-ups.

Like the previous books, PET CRAZY boasts the contributions of twelve outstanding children's poets. They provide the "anchor poems" from which Janet Wong weaves a story-in-poems, intertwining the lives of three pet-loving characters: Kristy, Ben, and Daniel. Add to that, Sylvia Vardell's game-like writing activities, creative prompts, and a wide array of interesting resources for readers, writers, and pet lovers (pet poetry books, anyone?), and you've got the award-winning formula that has made all of the Poetry Friday Power Books so doggone successful.

allowing children the choice of what they read, think, write, and respond, and giving them a "behind the scenes" look at how poems work and how poets write and think. Wouldn't you know, PET CRAZY even comes with a bonus section about hidden language skills that readers can search for throughout the book! Of course you don't have to tell them it's educational, just let them have fun.

Each PowerPack opens with a PowerPlay activity—a simple, yet engaging pre-writing activity to get readers thinking. For PowerPack 3, readers are given a list of words and asked to circle their favorites and/or cross out ones they don't like.

(Click image to enlarge.)

Here's my list of favorite words. (I didn't find any that I wanted to cross out.)

You might be when I tell you that I have five copies of PET CRAZY to give away!

Leave a comment below, or email me at TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail
(dot) com no later than Tuesday, September 12, 2017 to be entered into
the drawing. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced next Friday,
September 15th. Yips of appreciation to Janet and Sylvia for providing me with these giveaway copies!

48 comments:

Cute, cuter, cutest! Too much fun reading pet poems. And, in this case, I think cute is a true compliment (sometimes writers cringe at that word). I love the whole idea of Poetry Power Packs. They are absolutely perfect for middle school kids that I work with. This week, I have an abecedarian & found book review over on A Word Edgewise https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/I'm sending readers to TLD padlet to read it. Happy Poetry Friday.

'Wiggle' is the perfect word to pair with 'puppy'! Our G. just petsat a puppy...and oh, the best! Thank you for sharing your joyful poem and for featuring this latest cool new book from Sylvia and Janet. Meow! Woof! xxxx

Wiggle, wiggle, maybe giggle! Your poem makes me want to do both! All that wiggling is just like the neighbor's puppy. Our dog is old and long past her wiggle days, except for the tail that thumps, so I enjoy visits from the puppy (our dog, not so much). I'm excited to see more of this latest Poetry Power Pack. It looks like a winner!

Love that 'wiggling', perfect puppy moment, but my brother has an older terrier who wiggles just as much. There are those dogs that are the most enthusiastic! The book seems perfect, as I've said before, a must for my granddaughters! Thanks, Michelle!

I think Janet and Sylvia's new book will rank high on my list! I love what you did with puppy and wiggle. It's a puppy celebration for sure and your poem had a wiggly, bouncy, puppy beat! Pure delight!

You have captured that puppy wiggle in your poem. I love all things that Sylvia and Janet do. Can't wait to see this one. Since I work with multiple grade levels, their books are always accessible to my students.

Michelle, thanks for the big shoutout to Janet and Sylvia's books-"At their core, these books are about making connections—". They have been a source of poetic inspiration. To top off your post today, you gave us a great treat with your poem.

About Me

I write children's poetry, picture books, and greeting card copy. My creative challenge is to bring out the natural musicality and rhythm of words and let them bounce around (and otherwise run amok) within the sphere of my imagination. Please visit my website at MichelleHBarnes.com

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